Shield Support Structure of Helmet

ABSTRACT

A shield support structure of a helmet, wherein a first guide part and a second guide part are provided to be arranged with a support mechanism extending from a shell to a shield, wherein the support mechanism is provided at a side part of a shell to rotatably support the shield in an open and close direction, and the support mechanism guides open and close operation achieved by rotation of the shield from a fully-closed state to a fully-opened state, wherein the first guide part includes an immovable guide part provided at the shell and a guide rail part provided at the shield so as to engage with the immovable guide part, and the second guide part includes a movable guide part provided at the shield and a support rail part provided at the shell to engage with the movable guide part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shield support structure of a helmet.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known that a shield support structure of a helmet rotatablysupports side parts of right and left end portion of a shield providedso as to cover a front open part of a full face helmet or an open facehelmet in a direction for opening and closing the front open part withrespect to both of the right and left side parts of the shell.

In order to reduce the wind noise while running, the support structureis housed in a recessed portion provided at the side part of the shell,so that the thickness made by the base plate, the shield and the covermember which are overlapping each other does not protrude from the sidepart of the shell, and that the surface of the base plate constitutingthe outermost surface of the support structure is flush with the sidepart of the shell.

The recessed portion described above is made by recessing the portionwhere the support structure at the side part of the shell is housed andrecessing the surface of the shock absorbing liner provided inside ofthe shell so as to correspond to the recession of the shell, therefore,the thickness of the side part where the recessed portion is provided isthinner than the thickness of other portions of the helmet.

Although the temple area where the arrangement part of the support shaftis disposed described above is likely to come into contact with the roadsurface and the like and which are likely to receive an impact when itfalls, the recessed portion housing the arrangement part of the supportshaft must be extended to the upper portion thereof, and it is necessaryto make a hole in the shell itself to arrange the support shaft,therefore it is inevitable to reduce the rigidity.

In order to prevent a reduction in the rigidity of the helmet due to thethickness of the recessed portion, the following reinforcement means areadopted in general: reinforcing the portion corresponding to therecessed portion of the shell. However, It is unavoidable to increasethe weight of the helmet end the cost of manufacturing of the helmet insuch reinforcement means.

The object of the present invention is, at least, to reduce the area ofthe recessed portion at the side part of the helmet. Accordingly, it isable to reduce the area to which the reinforcement means is applied evenwhen the area to which the reinforcement means is applied is reduced, toreduce the weight of the helmet by reducing the area to which thereinforcement means is applied, and to reduce the manufacturing cost ofthe helmet.

The shield support structure of the helmet with respect to the presentinvention includes at least the following elements to achieve theobject.

There is provided a shield support structure of a helmet for opening andclosing a front open part of a shell, comprising a support mechanism,wherein the support mechanism includes a first guide part and a secondguide part provided from the shell to the shield, the support mechanismrotatably supports the shield in an open and close direction at a sidepart of the shell, said guides an open and close operation achieved by arotation of the shield from a fully-closed state to a fully-openedstate, the first guide part includes an immovable guide part provided atthe shell and a guide rail part provided at the shield to engage withthe immovable guide part, and the second guide part includes a movableguide part provided at the shield and a support rail part provided atthe shell to engage with the movable guide part, the guide rail part isprovided at the side part of the shell and below a virtual rotationalcenter of the shield that is set above an upper end of the shield, andis formed in an arc shape so as to be able to guide the shield to rotatebased on the virtual rotational center, and the support rail part isprovided below the virtual rotational center, and extends over a movingrange of the movable guide part caused by the rotation of the shield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a helmet to which a shield supportstructure is applied, and shows a fully-closed state of the shield as anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a state of the shield when the shield is rotating inthe open and close direction of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a fully-opened state of the shield of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view taken along the line (IV)-(IV) ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the present invention, the support rail part is preferably formed inan arc shape capable of guiding the shield to rotate based on thevirtual rotational center.

A part or all of the support rail part is preferably configured in adirection for guiding the movable guide part so as to move the virtualrotational center with the rotation operation of the shield.

A part or all of the guide rail part is preferably configured in adirection for guiding the movement of the virtual rotational center.

The helmet hereinafter explained includes a full face helmet having afront open part, a front surface open portion, in which the face of thewearer except the jaw portion is exposed, and also includes an open facehelmet in which all of the facial portion of the wearer is exposed.

The shell hereinafter explained constitutes an outermost layer of thehelmet, and is formed in a full face helmet shape and an open facehelmet shape using fiber reinforced plastics, FRP, CFRP and the like,made by impregnating a reinforcing fiber material, glass fiber, carbonfiber and the like, with a thermosetting resin, epoxy resin, phenolresin and the like, or a thermosplastic resin material, polycarbonateand the like.

The shield hereinafter explained is formed into a predetermined shapeusing a transparent or colored transparent thermoplastic resin material,polycarbonate and the like, having elasticity.

In the explanation below, the front open part side is defined as a frontdirection, and the back side of the head of the helmet which is oppositeto the front open part is defined as a back direction. A directionperpendicular to the front and back direction in a horizontal plane isdefined as a right and left direction, and a direction perpendicular tothe front and back direction or the right and left direction in thevertical plane is defined as an up and down direction.

Hereinafter, a support structure of a shield 1 of a helmet A of anembodiment according to the present invention will be explained withreference to FIG. 1 to 4. The helmet shown as an example in the presentembodiment is a full face helmet. It is noted that the present inventionis not limited by the embodiment explained below.

The helmet A includes a shell A1, a shock absorbing liner (not shown)provided on the inner surface of the shell A1, and a cushion body (notshown) provided on the inner surface of the shock absorbing liner andthe inside of the shell A1. The shield 1 is axially supported at both ofthe right and left side parts outside of the shell A1 in such a mannerthat the shield 1 can rotate in a direction for opening and closing thefront open part A2 of the shell A1.

The shock absorbing liner described above is formed into a shape fillinga space between the inner surface of the shell A1 and the head portionof the wearer using a material having shock absorption performance (forexample, Styrofoam material) or a material having the shock absorptionperformance equivalent to the material, and includes extent ofprotection, the top of the head, the front of the head, the back of thehead, the sides of the head defined by SNELL (Snell Memorial Foundation)or JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards).

Hereinafter, the support structure of the shield 1 will be explainedmore specifically. The shield 1 is supported by a support mechanism Bwhich rotatably supports the shield 1 at the side part of the shell A1in an open and close direction and which guides the open and closeoperation of the shield 1 with the rotation from the fully-closed stateof the shield 1 to the fully-opened state of the shield 1.

The entire area of the support mechanism B including a right and leftsupported portions 10 of the shield 1 is covered by the cover member B1.

While the shield 1 is guided by the support mechanism B, the shield 1 isconfigured to rotate in the open and close direction along the surfaceof the shell A1 so as to rotate base on a virtual rotational center Plocated at the side part of the shell A1 and located above the upperedge of the shield 1. The supported portion 10 is formed to have such avertical width that the upper edge of the supported portion 10 is notexposed from the upper edge of the cover member B1 when the shield 1 isin the fully-closed state.

The virtual rotational center P is configured to be at the same positionas the axial center 102 of the support shaft 101 according to thesupport structure of a conventional shield 100 indicated by long andshort dashed lines when the shield 1 is in the fully-closed state, andis configured so that the position of the virtual rotational center Pmoves downward when the shield 1 is in the fully-opened state (see FIG.3).

In accordance with the downward movement of the virtual rotationalcenter P, the front upper edge of the shield 1 moves in a direction tocome closer to the surface of the shell A1 when the shield 1 is in thefully-opened state.

Specifically, when the shield 1 is rotated in the upward direction fromthe fully-closed state, the shield 1 starts to rotate substantiallyabout the virtual rotational center P along the track guided to thecontact point of the immovable guide part 20 on the first guide part 2and the second guide part 3, and the support rail part 31 of the movableguide part 30. The upper edge of the shield 1 opens in a direction awayfrom the shell A1, and reaches the upper limit of the rotation in suchstate that the shield 1 moves closer to the shell A1 from before thefully-opened state to the fully-opened state.

The virtual rotational center P is a virtual center that is set at theside part of the shell A1. The virtual rotational center P is notphysically provided unlike the support shaft 101 provided on the baseplate 103 reaching the temple portion of the wearer as in theconventional example. Therefore, it is not needed to provide a recessedportion on the helmet A from the virtual rotational center P to aportion close to the upper edge of the support mechanism B, and thethickness can be ensured.

More specifically, the virtual rotational center P is configured to beat the position coaxial to the support shaft 101 when the shield 1 is inthe fully-closed state, and is configured to move downward below thesupport shaft 101 when the shield 1 is in the fully-opened state,therefore, the support mechanism B, the supported portion 10 and thecover member B1 are housed, and the thickness made by the overlappingthereof is reduced, and the area of the recessed portion A3 where thesurface of the cover member B1 and the surface of the shell A1 are flushwith each other can be configured to be smaller than the area of therecessed portion 105 housing the support structure of the conventionalshield 100 and the cover member 104.

Therefore, the area of the recessed portion A3 of the helmet A can bereduced, and in particular, the thickness in proximity to the virtualrotational center P can be ensured. This can reduce the area appliedwith reinforcement means such as reinforcing the portion correspondingto the recessed portion A3 of the shell A1, increasing the expansionratio of the shock absorbing liner, and reinforcing the shock absorbingliner. By reducing the area of the reinforcement means, the weight ofthe helmet A can be Reduced, and the cost of manufacturing of the helmetA can be reduced.

Hereinafter, the support mechanism B for guiding and supporting therotation of the shield 1 about the virtual rotational center P will beexplained specifically. The support mechanism B includes the first guidepart 2 and the second guide part 3 provided to extend from in the shellA1 to the shield 1.

The first guide part 2 includes the immovable guide part 20 provided atthe side part of the shell A1 and the guide rail part 21 provided at theside of the shield 1, and the gable rail part 21 is engaged with theimmovable guide part 20.

The immovable guide part 20 is a shaft-like member provided on the baseplate A4 attached to the side part of the shell A1 so as to protrudetoward the outside in the right and left direction.

The base plate A4 is provided with an attaching and detaching mechanismC of the shield 1 below the first guide part 2 and the second guide part3, and the shield 1 can he detached by operating the attaching anddetaching C in the fully-opened state.

The guide rail part 21 is an elongate hole opened in the arc shape in ashape along the rotation track of the shield 1 in the open and closedirection, and when the guide rail part 21 is engaged with the immovableguide part 20, the guide rail part 21 is configured to guide therotation of the shield 1 along the arc of the guide rail part 21 in theopen and close direction while the shield 1 is supported by theimmovable guide part 20.

The length of the guide rail part 21 in the longitudinal direction issuch a length that, when the shield 1 is in the fully-closed state (seeFIG. 1), the front end comes into contact with the immovable guide part20, so that this prevents the shield 1 from rotation in the closedirection beyond the fully-closed state of the shield 1, and when theshield 1 is in the fully-opened state (see FIG. 3), the rear end comesinto contact with the immovable guide part 20, so that this prevents theshield 1 from rotation in the open direction beyond the fully-openedstate of the shield 1.

The second guide part 3 includes the movable guide part 30 provided onthe inner surface (surface opposed to the shell A1) of the shield 1 andthe support rail part 31 provided at the side part of the shell A1, andthe movable guide part 30 is configured to engage with the support railpart 31.

The movable guide part 30 is a shaft-like member provided on the shield1 to protrude to the inner side in the right and left direction (at theshell A1).

The support rail part 31 includes a long groove portion 31A provided inthe arc shape in a shape for supporting the rotation of the shield 1 inthe open and close direction which is achieved by the immovable guidepart 20 and the guide rail part 21, and includes an inclined portion 31Bprovided continuously at the front end of the long groove portion 31A.

The movable guide part 30 is engaged with the support rail part 31, sothat the support rail part 31 supports the rotation of the shield 1along the arc of the guide rail part 21 in the open and close directionof the shield 1 while the movable guide part 30 is supported.

This second guide part 3 supports the rotation of the shield 1 along thearc of the guide rail part 21 in the open and close direction of theshield 1, so that when the shield 1 rotates when it is opened andclosed, the immovable guide part 20 prevents the shield 1 from rotatingwhile the immovable guide part is the axial center, and the shield 1 canrotate normally about the virtual rotational center P in the open andclose direction.

The length of the support rail port 31 in the longitudinal direction issuch a length that, when the shield 1 is in the fully-closed state (seeFIG. 1), the movable guide part 30 comes into contact with the rear endof the long groove portion 31A, so that this prevents the shield 1 fromrotating in close direction beyond the fully-closed state of the shield1, and when the shield 1 is in the fully-opened state (see FIG. 3), themovable guide part 30 comes into contact with the front end of theinclined portion 31B, so that this prevents the shield 1 from rotatingin the open direction beyond the fully-opened state of the shield 1.

The long groove portion 31A is formed in the arc shape about the virtualrotational center P, and with the guide rail part 21 and the supportrail part 31, the rotation operation of the shield 1 in the open andclose direction can be made smoothly.

The inclined portion 31B is formed to incline downward. The downwardinclination direction of the inclined portion 31B is a direction formoving the movable guide part 30 according to the movement in which theupper edge at the front of the shield 1 comes closer to the surface ofthe shell A1 within a range from when the shield 1 is being rotated inthe opening direction (see FIG. 2) to when the shield is in the fullyopened state (see FIG. 3).

In the above explanation, all of (the entire length of) the guide railpart 21 is set in a direction for guiding the movement of the virtualrotational center P. Alternatively, a part of the guide rail part 21 maybe set in a direction for guiding the movement of the virtual rotationalcenter P.

In the above explanation, the front end of the support rail part 31 isset as the inclined portion 31B in a direction for guiding the movableguide part 30 so as to move the virtual rotational center P according tothe rotation operation of the shield 1. Alternatively, the inclinedportion 31B may not be provided, and all of, the entire length of thesupport rail part 31 may be set in a direction for guiding the movableguide part 30 while moving the virtual rotational center P according tothe rotation operation of the shield 1.

In the above explanation, the shape of the long groove portion 31A isshown as the arc shape. But this shape may be any shape as long as it isa shape capable of guiding the movable guide part 30 while moving thevirtual rotational center P according to the relation operation of theshield 1.

In the above explanation, the virtual rotational center P is configuredto rotate when the shield 1 rotates in the open and close direction.Alternatively, the virtual rotational center P may be configured not tomove when the shield 1 rotates in the open and close direction.

According to the first guide part 2 and the second guide part 3, theshield 1 can be rotated normally in the open and close direction withoutrequiring the support shaft 101 for supporting the conventional shield100.

According to the support mechanism B explained above, the center ofrotation of the shield 1 is defined as the virtual rotational center Pthat is set at the side part of the shell A1, and the first guide part 2and the second guide part 3 for guiding and supporting the rotation ofthe shield 1 in the open and close direction is provided below thevirtual rotational center P, therefore, the area of the recessed portionA3 at the aide part of the helmet A can be reduced.

In addition, even when the attaching and detaching mechanism C isprovided on the base plate A4, it is possible to use the small baseplate A4 which is smaller than the conventional base plate 103,therefore, the area of the cover member B1 can be reduced as comparedwith the conventional example. Therefore, the wind noise caused by thecover member B1 can be reduced while the motorcycle is running, and inaddition, the weight of the helmet A can be reduced, and the design canbe improved.

Further, the shield 1 is basically supported by two shafts which are theimmovable guide part 20 and the movable guide part 30, and as describedabove, the guide rail part 21 and the support rail part 31 can beprovided to draw a certain arc so as to define the virtual rotationalcenter P. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The guide railpart 21 and the support rail part 31 can set any given track. Forexample, the virtual rotational center P may be configured to move atall times according to the rotation of the shield 1, or the track may bea combination of straight lines, so that opening and closing of theshield 1 can be supported.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   A: helmet-   A1: shell-   B: support mechanism-   P: virtual rotational center-   1: shield-   2: first grade part-   3: second guide part-   20: immovable guide part-   21: guide rail part-   30: movable guide part-   31: support rail part

1. A shield support structure of a helmet for opening and closing afront open part of a shell, comprising a support mechanism, wherein thesupport mechanism includes a first guide part and a second guide partprovided from the shell to the shield, the support mechanism rotatablysupports the shield in an open and close direction at a side part of theshell, and guides an open and close operation achieved by a rotation ofthe shield from a fully-closed state to a fully-opened state, the firstguide part includes an immovable guide part provided at the shell and aguide rail part provided at the shield to engage with the immovableguide part, and the second guide part includes a movable guide partprovided at the shield and a support rail part provided at the shell toengage with the movable guide part, the guide rail part is provided atthe side part of the shell and below a virtual rotational center of theshield that is set above an upper end of the shield, and is formed in anarc shape so as to be able to guide the shield to relate based on thevirtual rotational center, and the support rail part is provided belowthe virtual rotational center, and extends over a moving range of themovable guide part caused by the rotation of the shield.
 2. The shieldsupport structure of the helmet according to claim 1, wherein thesupport rail part is formed in an arc shape capable of guiding theshield to rotate based on the virtual rotational center.
 3. The shieldsupport structure of the helmet according to claim 1, wherein a part orall of the support rail part is configured in a direction for guidingthe movable guide part so as to move the virtual rotational center withthe rotation operation of the shield.
 4. The shield support structure ofthe helmet according to claim 2, wherein a part or all of the supportrail part is configured in a direction for guiding the movable guidepart so as to move the virtual rotational center with the rotationoperation of the shield.
 5. The shield support structure of the helmetaccording to claim 3, wherein a part or all of the guide rail part isconfigured in a direction for guiding the movement of the virtualrotational center.
 6. The shield support structure of the helmetaccording to claim 4, wherein a part or all of the guide rail part isconfigured in a direction for guiding the movement of the virtualrotational center.